Garments with means to hydrate the skin

ABSTRACT

A garment, which is preferably in the form of a sock, comprises an ankle engaging part and a foot receiving part. The sock comprises a skin engaging material having an inner surface which is arranged to engage in use the skin on a wearer&#39;s foot (not shown), and hydration means, which may be in the form of a moisturizing cream or lotion, to hydrate the skin.

The present invention relates to garments, and particularly, but not exclusively to socks.

It is becoming increasingly common to hydrate the skin in order to maintain its condition and moisturising cream and lotions are conventionally used for this purpose. However, moisturisers tend to be greasy and often do not soak readily into the skin. This is inconvenient since the skin often comes into contact with other surfaces before the moisturiser has been fully absorbed.

According to the present invention there is provided a garment comprising skin engaging means having an inner surface arranged to engage in use a wearer's skin, and hydration means on the skin engaging means to hydrate the skin.

Preferably the garment includes means to prevent penetration of the hydration means to an external surface of the garment. In one embodiment, the prevention means may comprise an outer material provided on an outer surface of said skin engaging means. The outer material is preferably formed of a material resistant to the passage of said hydration means therethrough. Alternatively, or in addition, the skin engaging means may be formed of a material resistant to the passage of said hydration means therethrough.

The hydration means is preferably provided on the inner surface of the skin engaging means, and may be impregnated into the inner surface of the skin engaging means. Alternatively, the hydration means may be provided as a layer on the inner surface of the skin engaging means.

Preferably the garment is deformable to enable the garment to accommodate wearers of different sizes. Preferably the skin engaging means comprises a deformable rubber or plastics material. Preferably the outer material comprises a deformable rubber or plastics material. The deformable material may be latex rubber.

The hydration means may comprise a moisturising cream or lotion. Preferably the garment is disposable, and desirably the garment is a sock.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a garment comprising forming the garment to provide a skin engaging means having an inner surface arranged to engage in use a wearer's skin, and providing hydration means on the skin engaging means to hydrate the skin.

Preferably the forming step is carried out by a latex dipping process. Preferably the providing step comprises applying the hydration means to the inner surface of the skin engaging means. Alternatively, it may comprise impregnating the hydration means into the inner surface of the skin engaging means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of a garment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a second embodiment of the garment; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of latex dipping apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a garment in the form of a sock 10 comprising an ankle engaging part 12 and a foot receiving part 14. The sock 10 comprises a skin engaging material 16 having an inner surface 18 arranged to engage in use the skin on a wearer's foot (not shown) and hydration means 20 in the form of a moisturising cream or lotion to hydrate the skin.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the skin engaging material 16 comprises latex rubber to enable the sock 10 to deform and stretch to accommodate feet of different sizes. The latex rubber may be coloured, as desired, to provide a pleasing appearance. The use of a latex rubber material prevents the passage of the hydration means 20 through the skin engaging material 16 to an external surface 22 thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the hydration means 20 is provided as a layer on the inner surface 18 of the skin engaging material 16.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the sock 10 in which, in addition to the skin engaging material 16, an outer material 24 is provided on the external surface 22 of the skin engaging material 16. The outer material 24 is formed of a material which prevents passage of the hydration means 20 therethrough.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hydration means 20 is impregnated into the inner surface 18 of the skin engaging material 16.

In the interests of hygiene, the sock 10 is disposable and is intended to be used only once.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the garment according to the invention is formed by a latex dipping process to provide a sock 10 comprising a skin engaging material 16 having an inner surface 18 arranged to engage a wearer's skin. The latex dipping process is a known process, which involves, in general terms, providing a former 26, for example of wood, ceramic or glass, in the form of a sock 10 and immersing this into a bath 28 containing liquid latex 30. The former 26 is then removed from the bath 28 and carries a thin layer of liquid latex 30 thereon. The former 26 is subsequently placed in an oven and subjected to heat to cause the liquid latex 30 to dry and vulcanise. Once dried and vulcanised, the resulting latex sock 10 is removed from the former 26 and hydration means 20 in the form of a moisturising cream or lotion is applied, for example by coating, to the inner surface 18 of the skin engaging material 16.

If desired, an outer material 24 may also be provided on an external surface 22 of the skin engaging material 16.

The garment according to the invention thus enables hydration and moisturising of a wearer's skin, whilst preventing the hydration means 20 from coming into contact with other surfaces. Advantageously, the use of latex material causes a wearer's foot to become hot and consequently the skin pores to open. This enables the hydration means to be quickly and easily absorbed into the skin.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the garment may be of a form other than a sock 10. The garment may be formed of a material other than a latex material. The hydration means 20 may be applied to the inner surface 18 of the skin engaging material 16 other than by impregnation or application as a separate layer.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. 

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A garment comprising skin engaging means having an inner surface arranged to engage in use a wearer's skin, and hydration means on the skin engaging means to hydrate the skin.
 24. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the garment includes means to prevent penetration of the hydrations means to an external surface of the garment.
 25. A garment according to claim 24, wherein the prevention means comprises an outer material provided on an outer surface of said skin engaging means.
 26. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the outer material is formed of a material resistant to the passage of said hydration means therethrough.
 27. A garment according to claim 23 wherein the skin engaging means is formed of a material resistant to the passage of said hydration means therethrough.
 28. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the hydration means is provided on the inner surface of the skin engaging means.
 29. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the hydration means is impregnated into the inner surface of the skin engaging means.
 30. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the hydration means is provided as a layer on the inner surface of the skin engaging means.
 31. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the garment is deformable to enable the garment to accommodate wearers of different sizes.
 32. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the skin engaging means comprises a deformable rubber or plastics material.
 33. A garment according to claim 25, wherein the outer material comprises a deformable rubber or plastics material.
 34. A garment according to claim 32, wherein the deformable material comprises latex rubber.
 35. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the hydration means comprises a moisturizing cream or lotion.
 36. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the garment is disposable.
 37. A garment according to claim 23, wherein the garment is a sock.
 38. A method of manufacturing a garment comprising forming the garment to provide a skin engaging means having an inner surface arranged to engage in use a wearer's skin, and providing hydration means on the skin engaging means to hydrate the skin.
 39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the forming step is carried out by a latex dipping process.
 40. A method according to claim 38, wherein the providing step comprises applying the hydration means to the inner surface of the skin engaging means.
 41. A method according to claim 38, wherein the providing step comprises impregnating the hydration means into the inner surface of the skin engaging means. 